Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 11th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 10th Jun 26 at
3:56PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Persistent rain onto western hills from dawn, soon spreading widely. Murky with heavy falls, extended heavy falls west Wales. Very windy England and Wales, gale-force gusts, strongest Wales. Rain and strong wind slower to reach north and east Scotland though blanket low cloud fills in.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Persistent rain southwest, patches spread east; blustery
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly shifting southerly 15-25mph; some variability, but also gusty over high tops, reaching 30mph or stronger for periods. Later trending westerly into evening, strengthening to sustained 30-35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in places, but some more blustery and gusty areas around higher mountains, at times affecting stability. Marked wind chill. Probably starting to deteriorate later in the day.
How Wet?
Rain most persistent southwest
Rain soon spilling in from the southwest, soon persistent with heavy falls southern Cairngorms to Ben Alder, also Monadhliath. Patchier toward northeast where may stay largely dry until late morning, but then a rising risk of patches spreading more widely afternoon and evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Increasingly extensive
Varied cloud banks filling in soonest over more southern hills, but becoming extensive, with time shrouding most hills above 700-900m, lower at times in south. Northeastern Cairngorms may start largely clear but only briefly.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, dull southwest, some brighter skies north/east to start the day. Visibility good where dry, but poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C at dawn, rising to 6 or 7C afternoon, locally 8C northern Cairngorm slopes. Feeling increasingly cool in direct wind, later to -3C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 12th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 10th Jun 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West or southwesterly, 25 to 40mph. Trending towards higher speeds late in the day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking where exposed over high terrain, some buffeting gusts starting to affect balance. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional drizzly showers west
Drizzly showers most common near and west of the A9, fewer and generally brief further east, and more often dry Deeside; some risk showers spreading further east later afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent southwestern hills
Cloud banks most frequent over hills near Drumochter, mostly above 700-800m. Some cloud capping high tops fairly widely, often above 900-1000m, with breaks to tops more often northeast areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% southwest, to 50% northeast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, glimpses of sun mainly eastern areas. Visibility good below cloud, reduced at times in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 8C afternoon. Feeling like -5C where exposed to wind on higher Cairngorms.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 13th June 2026
Last updated
Wed 10th Jun 26 at
3:56PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 40-50mph, shifting northwesterly later. Speeds likely vary though the day, strongest sustained winds east later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous or difficult walking over the high tops with significant wind chill. Maintaining stability requires sustained effort.
How Wet?
Rain, mostly afternoon
Rain drifting from the northwest for much of the day, some more persistent falls possible near and west of Ben Macdui for periods. Drier Deeside until afternoon when rain spreads more widely for several hours.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, later more extensive
Cloud banks likely shroud the high Cairngorm plateau most of the day, some variability northern slopes where may reach to 800-900m. May fill in more extensively for several afternoon hours to at least 700m, or lower north slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, probably deteriorating
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sunshine, best sun towards Deeside, but later more extensively cloudy. Very good visibility out of cloud and rain, but notably variable.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5 or 6C, rising to 7C. Feeling as cold as -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Damp westerly breezes on Friday will cloak most mountains in cloud and some drizzle, better conditions eastwards. Cool and strong westerlies persist in Scotland on Saturday, then warmer with lighter winds by Sunday. Some patchy rain remaining in west and northwest Scotland over the weekend. Pressure tends to rise from the south this weekend, bringing warmer air and drier conditions to England & Wales, although west coast mountains may hold onto cloud. Into next week, a mixed southwesterly pattern remains, windy at times with periods of rain, drizzle and low cloud most persistent in the west. Warmest in England and Wales, but cooler westerly air likely returns at times mid-late week. Higher pressure then shows more signs of expanding over the country by late next week bringing improving conditions.